Troops of the Seventh Infantry Division continued to
advance in the eastern sector of the lines on Okinawa on April 30 (East
Longitude Date). By mid‑afternoon advance elements of the division had
entered the village of Kuhazu. Local gains were made along the remainder of the
front. The at­tack of the infantry was supported by heavy naval gunfire, heavy
artillery and carrier and land‑based aircraft. A few enemy planes were In
the area of Okinawa on April 30. One medium sized ship was damaged.

Aircraft from escort carriers attacked air
installations in the Sakishima group on April 30. Reports of the strike on
these islands by escort carrier planes on April 29 reveal that ammunition dumps
were exploded, radio facili­ties and barracks were hit and several planes were
destroyed on the ground.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One bombed and
strafed radio installa­tions on Kuro and Kuchino Islands in the northern
Ryukyus on April 30. An enemy plane was destroyed on the ground at Kuchino. On
the following day aircraft of this wing sank a cargo ship and damaged another
in the East China Sea; sank a small cargo ship off the southern coast of
Shikoku; and destroyed a small cargo ship at Miyake Island, south of Tokyo.

On April 30, Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter
Command, escorted heavy bombers of the Twenty‑First Bomber Command over
Tokyo, probably shot down one enemy plane and strafed three picket boats off
the coast leaving them afire and dead in the water. Iwo based Mustangs on May
1, bombed and strafed military installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins.

Mitchells of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing damaged
a large cargo ship with rockets north of the Bonins on April 30. Corsair and
Hellcat fighters end Avenger torpedo planes of this wing bombed enemy islands
in the Palaus on May 1.

Army Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Air Force
shot down a four engine seaplane over Truk in the Carolines on April 30 and
swept the sea­plane base and harbor with rocket fire sinking one small craft
and damaging

408

two others. Army Liberators of the same force followed the
attack with heavy bombing of the airfields on Moen and Param Islands. Marcus
Island was bombed by Seventh Air Force Liberators on the same date.

Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Kataoka
naval base on Shimushu on April 30. On the same date, installations on Kokutan
Cape on the same island, were attacked by search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 594, MAY 2, 1945

Far Eastern Waters.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of 21
enemy vessels, includ­ing two combatant ships‑a destroyer and an escort
vessel‑in operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

1 destroyer

1 escort vessel

1 destroyer transport

2 medium cargo transports

2 small cargo vessels

12 medium cargo vessels

1 large tanker

1 medium tanker

2. These actions have not been announced in any
pervious Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 350, MAY 2, 1945

The Seventh Infantry Division which captured Kuhazu
Village during the late afternoon of April 30 continued to advance southward on
Okinawa on May 1 (East Longitude Dates). No substantial change was made in
other sectors of the lines where our troops were under enemy artillery, mortar
and small arms fire. On May 2, ships' guns destroyed a number of enemy emplace­ments,
strong points, and boat pens and carrier and land based aircraft bombed enemy
defenses. The Infantry resumed the attack during the hours of dark­ness on the
morning of May 2 and elements of the Seventh Division moved 1,400 yards forward
to the vicinity of Gaja Hill, approximately one mile north of the town of
Yonabaru. Tanks and flame throwers were being em­ployed to develop this
salient. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division and the First Marine
Division launched an attack in the center and on the right flank and were
moving forward during the morning of May 2.

Targets on Kume Island, west of Okinawa and in the
Sakishima Group In the Southern Ryukyus, were attacked by aircraft of the U. S.
Pacific Fleet on May 2.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank a medium
transport south of Korea on May 1. On the following day, planes of this Wing
sank two small cargo ships off the coast of Central Honshu and one oft the
coast of Kyushu. Two small cargo ships were damaged near Honshu and a number of
fishing and small craft were struck off Kyushu on the same date.

Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command bombed
and strafed radio installations and other targets in the Bonins on May 2.

409

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Param
Airfield at Truk and the airstrip and air facilities at Marcus Island on May 1
and 2.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters and Avenger torpedo
planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus and on
Yap in the West­ern Carolines on May 2.

Neutralizing attacks were made on enemy bases in the
Marshalls by Search Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two on May 1.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 351, MAY 3, 1945

The Tenth Army resumed the attack in Southern Okinawa
on May 3, (East Longitude Date), meeting artillery, mortar and small arms fire
from the enemy's fortified line. The First Marine Division made a limited
advance in its zone of action while other sectors remained stable. The attack
was supported by ships' guns and aircraft.

In the early evening hours of May 3, four small
groups of enemy aircraft attacked our shipping off the coast of Okinawa
inflicting some damage on our forces and sinking two light units. Seventeen
enemy aircraft were destroyed.

Planes from escort carriers of the U. S. Pacific
Fleet continued neutraliz­ing attacks on airfields and air installations in the
Sakishima group on May 2.

As of May 2, according to the most recent reports
available, 1,131 officers and men of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had been killed in
action in the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan. A
total of 2,816 were wounded and 1,604 were missing. All figures are preliminary
and incomplete.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One destroyed
three twin‑engine planes on the ground, damaged locomotive and set
numerous fires in a low level attack on Kanoya Airfield, Kyushu, during the
early evening of May 3. Planes of the same wing probably sank a small cargo
ship off the coast of Central Honshu on the same date.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed
targets in the Palaus and strafed installations on Sonsoral Island, southwest
of the Palaus on May 3. On the same date dive-bombers of this wing struck the
airstrip at Yap. Neutralizing attacks were carried out on enemy bases in the
Marshalls by Marine aircraft on the previous day.

A search Privateer of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed
barracks and shops on Wake Island on May 2.

CINCPOA PRESS
RELEASE NO. 89, MAY 3, 1945

Among the ships of the British Pacific Fleet which
engaged in operations against the islands of the Sakishima Group during the
period March 26 to April 20 were the following fleet aircraft carriers

HMS Indomitable

HMS Indefatigable

HMS Victorious

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 595, MAY 4, 1945

1. The submarine USS Swordfish is overdue from patrol and presumed lost. Next of kin of
officers and crew have been informed.

410

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 352, MAY 4, 1945

During the night of May 3‑4 (East Longitude
Dates) about 600 Japanese soldiers using landing craft attempted to attack
behind our lines at three points along the West Coast and at one point on the
East Coast of Okinawa. By daylight the landing effort on the East Coast had
been repulsed and enemy groups on the West Coast were pocketed and being
destroyed. During early morning darkness a number of enemy aircraft attacked
Yontan Airstrip, caus­ing some damage. In the same period, ships offshore
destroyed 15 suicide boats one of which caused minor damage to a light surface
unit.

There was virtually no change in the position of the
lines of the Tenth Army in Southern Okinawa on May 4.

Between the hours of 0745 and 0915, on May 4, a
substantial number of enemy aircraft attacked our forces afloat in the area of
Okinawa, sinking five surface units and damaging a number of others.
Preliminary reports indicate that 54 enemy planes were shot down over our
forces by ships' guns and combat air patrols. One of our destroyers shot down a
Baka bomb during the attack.

Aircraft from fast carrier task forces of the U. S.
Pacific Fleet sweeping the Islands of the Northern Ryukyus shot down one plane,
destroyed one and damaged 19 others on the ground at Tokuno, Kikai and Tanega
Islands on May 3. On the following day, aircraft from fast carriers shot 96 aircraft
out of the air over Okinawa and the Amami Group.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One shot down two
enemy planes and damaged two others on May 4.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
continued neutralizing raids on airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 3.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed air
and harbor Installa­tions at Truk on May 3, leaving a small cargo ship burning
and another listing after being hit by bombs. A single Navy search Plane
exploded an ammuni­tion dump at Truk on the following day. On May 4, Seventh
Army Air Force planes bombed runways and dispersal areas on Marcus Island.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed
targets in the Palaus and Marshalls on May 4.

Mopping up operations on Two Island and the Islands
of the Marianas continued during April 22 and 28 inclusive. A total of 108 of
the enemy were killed and 156 were taken prisoner.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 353, MAY 5, 1945

Following and in conjunction with the attempted
landings of Japanese troops behind the Tenth Army lines on Okinawa on the night
of May 3‑4 (East Longitude Dates) and in coordination with his heavy air
attacks of May 3 and 4, the enemy on May 4, launched a general counterattack.
Its greatest weight was against the positions of the Seventh and Seventy‑Seventh
Infantry Divisions. This attack was supported by tanks and was preceded by
intense artillery fire. Our troops supported by a heavy barrage from Army and
Marine artillery and low level strafing by carrier and Marine air­craft broke
up the enemy attacks. Taking advantage of the disorganized state of the enemy's
lines after his failure in these operations, Army and Marine infantry men
resumed the offensive on the morning of May 5 and were advancing at midmorning
when elements of the First Marine Division began

411

an assault on Hill 187, east of the Asa River Mouth. A
total of 3,000 of the enemy were killed during the attacks on May 3‑4,
including troops which made landings on our beaches. Five enemy tanks were
destroyed.

During the air attacks of May 4, our forces shot down
168 planes over the Okinawa Area including 45 by the Second Marine Aircraft
Wing and 67 by Fast Carrier Forces Patrols. Early in the morning of May 5, a
small group of enemy planes approached our forces and bombed the Yontan
Airstrip causing no damage.

From the beginning of the Okinawa operation to May 5,
the enemy lost 33,462 killed and 700 prisoners of war including 297 labor
troops.

The Tenth Army up to May 3, lost 2,337 soldiers and
Marines killed. A total of 11,432 were wounded and 514 were missing.

Search Planes of Fleet Air Wing One sank two large
tankers in Fusan Harbor, Korea, and damaged a cargo ship south of Fusan on May
4.

Aircraft from escort carriers of the U. S. Pacific
Fleet continued to neutralize airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 4.

Corsairs and Avengers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft
Wing and Libera­tors of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed installations in the
Palaus on May 5.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 354, MAY 6, 1945

Heavy units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet in attacks
coordinated with those of carrier and land‑based aircraft bombarded enemy
positions on Okinawa on May 5 (East Longitude Date). During the early morning
and early evening of that day a number of enemy aircraft approached our forces
without causing damage. On the morning of May 6 a small number of enemy air
attacks were made on ships off Okinawa. One light unit suffered minor damage
and four enemy aircraft were shot down.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One based in the
Okinawa area swept Tsushima and Korea Straits and the coastal waters of Western
Korea on May 5 and inflicted the following damage on the enemy by low level
bombing and strafing:

Sunk:

Two large oilers

One medium freighter

One small cargo ship

Damaged:

One large fleet oiler
left dead in water and sinking

One cargo ship exploded
and left sinking.

One small freighter left
abandoned and sinking

One large cargo ship left
burning

One freighter left
listing and burning

One medium oiler left
burning

Nine small cargo ships
damaged

One lugger damaged

In addition, search planes shot down three enemy
aircraft. On the foll­owing day aircraft of this wing probably sank a picket
boat and destroyed numerous fishing craft.

On May 4 heavy units of the British Pacific Fleet
including battleships

412

and cruisers bombarded enemy airfields at Hirara and
Nobara on Miyako Island in the Sakishima group causing considerable damage.
Aircraft from carriers of the force attacked enemy airfields in the island
group on May 4 and 5 destroying 15 aircraft in the air, three on the ground and
damaging four others on the ground. A major unit of the task force suffered
some damage during an air attack but has resumed operations.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine
Aircraft Wing bombed installations in the Palaus through intense antiaircraft
fire on May 6.

Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force
strafed shipping and air installations at Truk on May 6 sinking one tug and
damaging two other craft in the harbor.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 355, MAY 7, 1945

Enemy positions in the Southern Sector of Okinawa
were brought under fire by heavy forces of the United States Pacific Fleet on
May 6 (East Longi­tude Date) and numerous blockhouses, pillboxes and other
structures were destroyed. Carrier aircraft of the Fleet and planes of the
Tactical Air Force gave close support to the ground troops. On the same day, U.
S. carrier air­craft made neutralizing attacks on airfields of the Sakishima
Group.

On May 7, troops of the Tenth Army advanced in the
Southern sector. The First Marine Division drove southward to the edge of
Dakeshi Village while the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, led by flame‑throwing
tanks, made gains in the center, and the Seventh Infantry Division moved forward
on the left flank.

From the beginning of the Okinawa operation through
May 7, the enemy lost 36,535 killed in all areas of the land fighting.

A small number of enemy aircraft were over our forces
in the Okinawa Area early on May 7. No damage was reported.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One attacking at
masthead height with bombs and machine guns inflicted the following damage on
enemy ship­ping in the waters around Korea on May 6:

Sunk:

One large cargo ship.

One medium cargo ship.

One medium oiler.

One large fleet tanker.

Damaged:

Two small freighters
damaged.

One large cargo ship
exploded.

Planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen in searches of
Japanese waters sank three coastal cargo ships south of Honshu and probably
destroyed a seagoing tug on May 7.

Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command bombed and
strafed barracks, and small craft at Chichi Jima in the Bonins on May 7.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing made
neutralizing attacks on the Marshalls on May 6. On the following day, Corsairs,
Hellcats and Avengers of the same Wing and Liberators of the Seventh Army Air
Force attacked targets in the Palau Islands.

413

MAY 8, 1945

A PROCLAMATION

The Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and
with God's help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender.
The western world has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and
longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon
millions of free­born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their
homes, corrupted their children, and murdered their loved ones. Our Armies of
Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering peoples, whose spirit and
will the oppressors could never enslave.

Much remains to be done. The victory won in the West
must now be won in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from
which half the world has been freed. United, the peace‑loving nations
have demon­strated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than the
might of dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once called us soft
and weak. The power of our peoples to defend themselves against all enemies
will be proved in the Pacific war as it has been proved in Europe.

For the triumph of spirit and of arms which we have
won, and for its promise to peoples everywhere who join us in the love of
freedom, it is fitting that we, as a nation, give thanks to Almighty God, who
has strengthened us and given us the victory.

Now, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the
United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day
of prayer.

I call upon the people of the United States, whatever
their faith, to unit in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have
won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present struggle and
guide us into the way of peace.

I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day
of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible
our victory.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this eighth day of
May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty‑five, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty‑ninth.

By the
President

[SEAL]

HARRY S. TRUMAN.

JOSEPH C. GREW,

Acting Secretary of State.

MAY 8, 1945

STATEMENT TO THE MEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND
ARMY BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

You and your Allies have won a great victory. The
price was high; it has been won by determination, sacrifice and blood. With
this victory you have won something more: the admiration and gratitude of
America and the world.

The task has now been half accomplished. Another
powerful enemy remains. It will require all our resolution and fortitude to
destroy him. Only by so doing can we keep faith with those who have fallen. Let
us now go forward to speedy and complete victory in the Pacific.

414

MAY 8, 1945

MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESS

The following are casualty figures for the Navy,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard sustained in the Atlantic‑Mediterranean
theaters, including the Euro­pean theater. Data for the Navy are through April
26; those for the Marine Corps are through April 10 ; those for the Coast Guard
are through May 5. The Coast Guard keeps no breakdown by theaters for
casualties other than dead. Totals include combatant as well as non‑combatant
casualties. Navy totals for the combined Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters
include casualties which might have been sustained on the continents of Europe
and Africa. The Coast Guard totals for the "Atlantic" theater cover
all operations against the European enemy.

Dead

Missing

Wounded
or Injured

Prisoners
of War

Total

Navy

Atlantic

6,415

594

3,612

29

10,650

Mediterranean

1,930

78

1,689

0

3,697

Total

8,346

672

5,301

29

14,347

Marine
Corps:

Atlantic

32

0

1

0

33

Mediterranean

2

0

0

0

2

Eastern
Theatre of Operations

0

1

o

3

4

Total

34

1

1

3

39

Coast
Guard

508

...

...

....

508

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 356, MAY 8, 1945

Battleships and cruisers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
delivered heavy fire in support of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps and the
Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps in southern Okinawa on May 7 (East Longitude
Date) destroying gun emplacements, some artillery and a number of mortars.
During the night of May 7‑8, surface craft fired several hundred rounds
of illumination which effectively reduced the enemy's attempts at infiltration
into our lines. Adverse weather limited our operations on the island during May
8 and there were no substantial changes in the lines.

No enemy aircraft activity was noted in the Ryukyus
during the night and day of May 7‑8. As of that date, summaries of damage
to the enemy show that fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing have shot
down 209 Japanese aircraft since they commenced operation from captured fields
on Okinawa.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
continued to neutralize airfields in the Sakishima group on May 7.

Concentrations of shipping in the coastal waters
around Korea were at­tacked on May 7 by search planes of Fleet Air Wing One and
an estimated 14,000 tons of shipping were sunk and 3,500 tons damaged as
follows

Sunk:

One small freighter
transport

One large fleet oiler

415

Damaged:

One trawler set afire

One small freight
transport set afire and listing

One small freighter left
listing and dead in water

Planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen in attacks on
shipping south of the island of Honshu on May 8 inflicted the following damage
on the enemy:

Sunk:

Two small cargo ships

One large fishing craft

One coastal cargo ship

Damaged:

Four small cargo ships

Four large fishing craft

One coastal cargo ship

Search planes of this wing shot down a four‑engine
flying boat near the Honshu coast on the same date.

Night flying Mitchells of the Fourth Marine Aircraft
Wing damaged a small ship with rockets south of Honshu on May 7.

Thunderbolts of the Seventh Army Air Force strafed
and bombed gun positions and radio installations on Truk in the Carolines
through intense antiaircraft fire on May 7. On the same date, Liberators of
this force bombed the runways on Marcus Island.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 357, MAY 9, 1945

Carrier‑based aircraft, Marine aircraft based
ashore and ships' guns con­tinued to support the troops of the Tenth Army with
heavy bombing and gunfire on enemy positions in southern Okinawa on May 8 (East
Longitude Date). Adverse weather continued in the Okinawa area through May 8
and no enemy aircraft were active over the Ryukyus on that date. The troops
continued to move southward on May 9.

At noon on May 9 every gun ashore and every gun
afloat which bore on the enemy on Okinawa fired one round simultaneously in
recognition of the victory of the United Nations in Europe.

From the beginning of operations against Okinawa
through May 7, the Tenth Army lost 2,107 soldiers and 577 Marines killed in
action. A total of 10,402 soldiers and 2,800 Marines were wounded and 501
soldiers and 38 Marines were missing.

Aircraft from carriers of the British Pacific Fleet
bombed airfields and defenses on Miyako and‑Ishigaki in the Sakishima
group on May 9 destroying two planes on the ground and shooting one out of the
air. Two units of the force suffered minor damage during an air attack but remained
operational.

A substantial force of Mustang fighters of the
Seventh Fighter Command destroyed two aircraft on the ground and probably
destroyed five others in low level strafing attacks on Kisarazu airfield and
Tateyama Naval Air Station southeast of Tokyo on May 8. In other attacks a
small cargo ship and a locomotive were destroyed and a train and a number of
small craft damaged.

On the same date, Liberators of the Seventh Army Air
Force bombed airfields on Marcus Island and at Truk. In low level attacks on
Marcus on

416

May 9, Liberators and search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing
Eighteen destroyed five aircraft on the ground and damaged three others.
Antiaircraft fire was intense and two of our planes were shot down in the
action. Survivors of one were rescued. On the same date, Liberators of the
Seventh Air Force again bombed air installations on Truk.

Corsairs and Hellcats of the Fourth Marine Aircraft
Wing attacked in­stallations on enemy‑held islands in the Palaus on May 8
and 9.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 596, MAY 10, 1945

Philippine Area.

1. The LCS(L)‑26 and the YMS‑71
have been lost in the Philippine area as the result of enemy action.

Enemy installations in Southern Okinawa were
bombarded by ships of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and carrier and Marine aircraft
on May 9 (East Longitude Date). Ships' gunfire broke up a number of troop
concentrations in the enemy's rear areas and destroyed pillboxes, emplacements
and a motor transport. During the evening of May 9, several groups of enemy
aircraft attacked our shipping off the Okinawa coast damaging two auxilia­ries
and bombing Yontan Airfield without success. Early the following morning
another attack was made on our ships and ground installations but we suffered
no damage. Six enemy aircraft were shot down during these actions. A Second
Marine Aircraft Wing fighter with guns inoperative de‑

417

stroyed a Japanese bomber by cutting off its tail assembly
with his propeller in three attacks.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division bridged and
crossed the estuary of the Asa River in Southern Okinawa on May 10.
Construction of the bridge was delayed temporarily by the enemy's use of two
human bombs which caused some damage during the early morning hours. Limited
gains were made on the remainder of the Southern front where hand to hand
fighting was in progress in some sectors. The enemy on Okinawa lost 38,857
killed through May 9.

The area of Okinawa from the Central sector of the
Island near the Hagushi beaches, northward to the extremity of the Island was
passed to the control of the Island Commander, Major General F. G. Wallace, U.
S. Army on May 4. About 135,000 civilians were under the jurisdiction of the U.
S. Military Government on May 8.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One damaged two
medium freighters and two small cargo ships south of Korea on May 9 by bombing
and strafing attacks.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed
airfields on Truk and Marcus Islands heavily on May 10. On the same date,
Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command struck at radio installations on Chichi
Jima in the Bonins.

Helldiver bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth
Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 9 and
struck targets in the Palaus and on Yap on the following day.

During the week of April 29 to May 5, inclusive, 69
Japanese were killed and 57 captured on Iwo Island. Total Japanese casualties
on Iwo to May 5 were 23,244 killed and 1,03,8 prisoners of war. In the Marianas
during the week of April 29 through May 5, 23 of the enemy were killed and 98
were captured.

On May 6, surface forces under Commander, Marshalls‑Gilberts
Area, evacuated 494 Marshallese from Islands of Jaluit Atoll. Japanese garrison
troops resisted the operation with light weapons on all islands. Our forces
lost one killed and one wounded. The evacuated natives have been placed on
Islands in the Marshalls Group under U. S. control.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 359, MAY 11, 1945

During the evening of May 10 and the morning of May
11 (East Longi­tude Dates) several groups of enemy aircraft attacked our ships
and shore installations in the Okinawa area damaging three light Naval units.
More than 40 enemy planes were shot down by our combat air patrols and anti­aircraft
fire.

During the night of May 10‑11, the Japanese on
Okinawa made numer­ous night attacks and attempts at night infiltration into
the lines of the Tenth Army. Practically all the attacking Japanese were
killed. At 0700 local time on May 11 after large scale preparation by heavy
artillery Naval gunfire and aerial bombing the Tenth Army launched a strong
attack. The initial assault carried elements of the Marine Third Amphibious
Corps on the west and of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps on the east to the
high ground overlooking the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Enemy resistance was
heavy along the front. On the west the Sixth Marine Division made a

418

general advance southward to a line about 800 yards south
of the Asa estuary and the First Marine Division, employing tanks, advanced and
occupied the village of Dakeshi. In the center of the island, the
Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division engaged in hand to hand fighting as it moved
forward in rugged terrain. On the east the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division
was gaining ground slowly against strong resistance.

At the end of May 10, the enemy on Okinawa had lost
39,469 killed in action.

As of May 9, according to most recent reports
available, 1,283 officers and men of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had been killed
and 2,072 were reported missing in action from the beginning of the Okinawa
operation and associated operations against Japan. A total of 3,498 were
wounded.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One shot down a four‑engine
flying boat west of Kyushu and set a small cargo ship afire west of Korea on
May 10.

Fleet Air Wing Eighteen planes damaged several
fishing craft and set two small cargo ships afire south of Honshu on May 10. In
the same area on the following day planes of this wing shot down an enemy plane,
exploded a coastal cargo ship, damaged another coastal vessel and caused it to
beach, set a small cargo ship afire and damaged a number of landing craft.
Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen destroyed two small cargo ships in
Truk Harbor on May 11.

Further information about the action of British
carrier aircraft against airfields in the Sakishima group on May 9 shows that
two enemy planes were destroyed on the ground and six more were destroyed in
the air. One British plane was lost in combat.

Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed
shipping and instal­lations at Kataoka Naval Base on Shimushu and Kashiwabara
on Para­mushiru in the Kuriles on May 10. Meager antiaircraft fire was
encountered.

Aircraft of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Fleet
Air Wing Two continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 10. Marine
Corsair and Hellcat fighters destroyed installations in the Palaus on May 11.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 360, MAY 12, 1945

Cruisers and destroyers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
covered by aircraft from fast carriers, bombarded shore installations on Minami
Daito Island, east of the Ryukyus on May 10 (East Longitude Date). On the
following day, air groups and ships' guns of the fast carrier task forces
destroyed 72 enemy aircraft over the Ryukyus including 40 over Okinawa. Carrier
planes made low level attacks on May 11 on airfields and shipping in the Amami
group destroying four planes on the ground and damaging warehouse Installations
and a number of luggers. One of our major Fleet Units suffered damage during an
air attack on that date.

A total of 93 enemy planes were destroyed over our
forces around Okinawa on May 11 including 19 planes shot down by one of our
destroyers. Several surface ships were damaged during these attacks.

On May 12, the Tenth Army continued the general
attack of the preced­ing day supported by heavy gunfire from ships and
sustained bombing by carrier planes and by aircraft of the Second Marine
Aircraft Wing. Apprecia­ble gains were made on each flank of the Army line.

419

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division entered the
suburbs of Naha on the west coast of Okinawa. Progress of the center of the
line against the positions of the enemy in the hilly central portions of the
Island was slow. The Seventy‑Seventh and Ninety‑Sixth Infantry
Divisions captured important enemy strong points and made local advances
against stiff resistance in their respective zones of action.

Tori Island, approximately 55 miles west of Okinawa,
was occupied by Tenth Army Troops without opposition on May 12.

In waters south of Korea on May 11, search aircraft
of Fleet Air Wing One including Privateers, Coronados and Mariners, inflicted
the following damage on the enemy:

One coastal cargo ship
sunk

Two coastal cargo ships
set afire.

One large coastal cargo
ship set afire and listing

Mitchells and Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air
Force sank a small largo ship and damaged two others in Kataoka Harbor on
Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles on May 11. A Mitchell was shot down during the
attack. On the same date, Eleventh Air Force Mitchells attacked targets at
Kashiwabara on Paramushiru and planes of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket
attacks on radar installations on Minami Cape on Shimushu.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Truk
in the Carolines and Marcus Island oh May 12.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck
targets in the Palaus and at Yap on the same date.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed
workshops and air installations on Wake Island on May 11.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 361, MAY 13, 1945

Heavy fighting continued on Okinawa on May 13 (East
Longitude Date) as troops of the Tenth Army continued to attack the approaches
to the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Few changes were noted in the western sector
A the lines where the Sixth Marine Division was meeting stiff resistance. An
attempted enemy landing behind our lines in the area of Machinato air­field was
broken up and a number of enemy boats were destroyed by ship and shore gunfire.
The First Marine Division was moving at noon south of Dakeshi into the high
ground protecting Shuri after beating off an enemy counterattack and killing
approximately 100 Japanese. Throughout the morning, these troops were under
heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire and progress teas difficult. The attack
of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps carried its lines 300 yards forward on
the Corps' right flank and about 800 yards forward on the Corps' left flank.
The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, meeting very strong resistance,
advanced into high ground northeast of Shuri and the 383rd Infantry Regiment of
the Ninety‑Sixth Division was approaching the summit of Conical Hill, a
key position which forms a pro­tective barrier for both Shuri and Yonabaru. The
ground troops were sup­ported throughout the day by heavy air strikes from
carriers and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. The guns of heavy units of
the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to bombard enemy areas.

420

A few enemy planes approached our forces in the
Okinawa Area early on the morning of May 13 but caused no damage.

Search seaplanes of Fleet Air Wing One sank a lugger,
set a small cargo ship afire and heavily damaged a small oiler in waters around
Korea on May 12.

Runways at Marcus Island and Truk were heavily bombed
by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on May 13.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine
Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations in the Palaus on May 13.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 597, MAY 14, 1945

1. The YMS‑103 has been lost in the
Okinawa area as the result of enemy action. The next of kin of casualties have
been informed.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 362, MAY 14, 1945

About 35 enemy aircraft in three groups attacked our
ships off the coast of Okinawa on the evening of May 13 (East Longitude Date)
causing some damage to two light units. Twenty‑five of the planes were
shot down, one of our destroyers accounting for eight aircraft. Early in the
morning of May 14, a few planes dropped bombs ashore on Okinawa but failed to
damage any installations.

On the afternoon of May 13, two rifle companies of
the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division reached the summit of Conical Hill,
2,500 yards east of Shuri, holding the position despite a Japanese
counterattack. The 383rd Infantry Regiment of the Ninety‑Sixth Division
completed capture of the hill on May 14. Domination of this high ground
permitted our left flank to advance 2,400 yards southward along the East Coast
bringing Yonabaru airstrip into our possession. In other sectors of the line,
advances were limited generally to 100 to 200 yards as troops of the Tenth Army
met stiff opposition. The ground forces were supported by heavy gunfire from
ships of the Pacific Fleet and by bombing and strafing attacks on enemy
positions by carrier aircraft and planes of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing.

Since April 1, our forces on Okinawa have captured or
destroyed 388 enemy guns of 70 millimeter caliber or larger.

Several groups of enemy aircraft made a series of
attacks on the Fast Carrier Task Forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet during the
morning of May 14, causing some damage to one major unit. Preliminary reports
show that 21 enemy planes were shot down by combat air patrols and ships'
gunfire.

Carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet bombed
the airfields on Miyako in the Sakishima Group on May 12 and 13, and struck
buildings, dumps and barges at Hirara Town where a large oil fire and a number
of smaller fires were started. Two aircraft were destroyed on the ground dur­ing
these attacks.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank a small
oiler, a medium freighter, and a small freighter transport in the waters around
Korea on May 13. A medium freighter transport was damaged and left burning.
From the beginning of operations in the Okinawa Area to May 13, inclusive, search
planes of this Wing have sunk 71,900 tons of enemy shipping, damaged

421

70,160 tons and destroyed six aircraft. The unit has
suffered combat losses of three aircraft from which all personnel were rescued.

Fleet Air Wing Eighteen aircraft damaged five small
cargo ships, a lugger and a fishing craft south of Honshu on May 13. In low
level attacks along the coast of Southwestern Honshu our search planes halted
two trains with strafing and rocket attacks and damaged a number of buildings.

Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing planes bombed targets in
the Marshalls on May 13 and attacked military installations in the Palaus and
on Yap on the following day. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two continued
neutralizing attacks in the Marshalls and bombed Ponape in the Carolines on May
13.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 598, MAY 15, 1945

Pacific.

1. United States submarines have reported sinking
nine enemy vessels as a result of operations in Far Eastern waters. Five
combatant vessels were included those sunk. The vessels sunk were:

1 destroyer

2 small escort vessels

1 large tanker

2 patrol vessels

1 medium cargo vessel

2 small cargo vessels

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 598, MAY 15, 1945

JAPANESE
LOSSES INFLICTED BY U. S. SUBMARINES

(According to the latest available information)

Combatant Ships

Sunk

Probably Sunk

Damaged

Total

Battleships

0

0

1

1

Aircraft
Carriers

4

2

2

8

Cruisers

17

2

6

25

Destroyers

54

6

6

65

Submarines

0

0

0

0

Tenders

3

1

1

6

Others

63

1

0

54

Total

131

11

16

168

Non‑Combatant
Ships

Tankers

110

1

18

129

Transports

165

5

8

178

Cargo
& Supply

682

17

71

770

Miscellaneous

40

3

6

49

Totals

997

26

103

1126

Total Ships of all Types

1128

87

119

1284

422

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 363, MAY 15, 1945

Airfield installations at Kokubu, Kanoya, Chiran and
Kagoshima on Kyushu were bombed by Avenger torpedo planes of the Fast Carrier
Task Forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet on the night of May 12‑13 (East Longitude
Dates.)

Twelve enemy planes were shot down during this
period. On May 13 and 14, heavy strikes of torpedo aircraft, Helldiver bombers
and Corsair and Hell­cat fighters were launched against airfields throughout
Kyushu and in parts of Shikoku in the Japanese Empire. During these two days
our aircraft de­stroyed 71 enemy planes and a barrage balloon in the air and 93
planes on the ground and destroyed or damaged 108 more on the ground. An
additional 73 aircraft were brought under machine gun and rocket attack with
unob­served results. Railroad installations in Kyushu were heavily hit with an
oil train, four locomotives, a railroad station, a chemical plant and a number
of large buildings destroyed or seriously damaged. Our planes also struck
buildings, barracks and aviation installations at airdromes in Saeki, Oita,
Miyakonojo, Kikuchi, Ashiya, Gannosu, Kofuji, Usa, Izumi, Tachiarai, Chiran,
Omura and Hitoyoshi on Kyushu and at airfields in Kochi and Matsuyama on
Shikoku.

Two motor boats and two luggers were sunk and a
repair ship, seven torpedo boats, four luggers, a small cargo ship, four small
craft and a tug were dam­aged on May 13 and 14. Preliminary reports indicate
that our forces lost about 10 aircraft in these attacks.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One heavily damaged
a small freighter transport and two small cargo ships on May 14 in the waters
around Korea.

On May 14, escort carrier aircraft attacked airfield
installations in the Sakishima group and struck enemy positions on Kume Island
west of Okinawa. On the same date night fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft
Wing struck targets in the Amami group. No material changes were made in the
Tenth Army lines on Okinawa on May 15. The day was marked by heavy fighting
along the western and central sectors of the front where the enemy mounted a
counterattack in the Sixth Marine Division sector. The Twenty‑Second
Regiment of Marines standing at the suburbs of Naha met the assault of the
enemy during the morning and beat it off in hand to hand fighting, finally
driving the attackers into the interior of Takamotoji Town with heavy losses.
An attempt to land small craft behind the Marine's lines in the Machinato
airfield sector was broken up by Naval gunfire. The First Marine Division
continued to attack the high ground in the vicinity of Wana Town and the
Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division after a difficult five day battle,
captured "Chocolate Drop Hill", east of Ishimmi, inflicting major
losses on the enemy. In the eastern sector, the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry
Division strengthened its positions and beat off an enemy counterattack in the
vicinity of Conical Hill. Throughout the day, Army and Marine troops were
supported by field artil­lery, heavy Naval gunfire and carrier and land‑based
aircraft.

Fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing struck
installations on Kikai Island in the Amami Group on May 16.

Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed
and strafed enemy facilities in the Palaus an May 14.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two sank a small cargo
ship at Truk on May 15.

423

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 599, MAY 16, 1945 Atlantic.

1. The USS Frederick C. Davis, a destroyer escort,
was sunk recently in the Atlantic by an enemy submarine.

2. Next of kin of casualties have been informed.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 364, MAY 16, 1945

During the early evening of May 15 (East Longitude
Date) about 12 enemy aircraft approached our ships off Okinawa but were
intercepted by escort carrier and Second Marine Aircraft Wing planes which shot
down nine and forced the others to retire without causing damage. A single
enemy plane was shot down early in the morning on May 16 when a few enemy
aircraft attacked Yontan and Kadena airfields causing minor damage.

Marine and Army Infantrymen supported by tanks,
aircraft, field artillery and Naval gunfire continued to carry the attack to
the enemy on Okinawa on May 16 but the lines remained substantially unchanged.
Shuri Town was sub­jected to heavy bombardment by artillery and Naval guns.
Local gains were made on the West Coast by The Sixth Marine Division. The
Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division was engaged in an uphill drive against
stubbornly defended tombs and caves. On the east the Ninety‑Sixth
Infantry Division attacked westward through the rugged country around Conical
Hill.

At the end of May 15, the enemy had lost 46,505
killed in action at Okinawa. Our forces on that date had captured 1,038
prisoners.

Reports through May 14 show that 2,771 soldiers and
1,010 Marines have been killed in action in the Okinawa operations. In the same
period 11,675 soldiers and 5,329 Marines have been wounded and 129 soldiers and
36 Marines are missing.

In operations against Ishigaki and Miyako in the
Sakishima group on May 14‑15, escort carrier aircraft of the U. S.
Pacific Fleet shot down three enemy planes and destroyed two on the ground.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank two
medium freighters and heavily damaged a medium freighter transport south of the
Korean Coast on May 15. On the following day planes of the same wing damaged a
small cargo ship in the same area.

Search Venturas and Liberators of Fleet Air Wing
Eighteen attacked shipping and installations along the southern coast of Honshu
on May 16 sinking a small oiler, a small cargo ship and five fishing craft and
damaging a fuel barge. Search planes of this wing damaged the entrances to
three rail­road tunnels along the coast with rocket and bomb hits.

Helldiver bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing
struck storage areas on Yap in the Carolines and fighter aircraft attacked
targets in the Palaus on May 15.

Fleet Air Wing Two search planes made neutralizing
attacks on Wake Island and on enemy installations in the Marshalls on May 15.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket
and machine gun attacks on trawlers and fishing craft off Kokutan Cape on
Shimushu in the northern Kuriles on May 15.

424

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 365, MAY 17, 1945

On the evening of May 16 (East Longitude Date) a
small group of enemy aircraft attempted to attack our forces on and around
Okinawa but failed to cause any damage. One enemy plane was destroyed.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division crossed the
Asato River and gained a small bridgehead in Naha, capital of Okinawa on May
17. During the late afternoon the Marines, after heavy fighting, also captured
"Sugar Loaf Hill" several hundred yards northeast of Takimotoji. On
the Third Amphibious Corps left flank, troops of the First Marine Division
reached Wana Town during the day. Without advance artillery preparation, infantrymen
of the Seventy‑Seventh Army Division made a surprise night attack against
enemy positions on the high ground in the vicinity of Ishimmi Town and reached
the outskirts of the town by noon of May 17. In the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry
Division zone of action, enemy resistance was heavy in the hill masses east of
Ishimmi and in the ridges running south of Conical Hill. Some progress was
being made in destruction of enemy strong points.

The attacking infantry was supported by artillery,
Naval gunfire and heavy strikes of planes of the escort carriers and the Second
Marine Aircraft Wing. Through May 15, guns of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had
delivered 25,000 tons ammunition of five inch caliber or larger in support of
the troops on Okinawa.

Carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet heavily
bombed towns and airfields in the Sakishima group on May 16 and 17, damaging
three planes on the ground and strafing four others with unobserved results. In
these attacks two small craft were destroyed, a small coastal cargo ship and a lugger
were left in sinking condition and two small cargo ships, two luggers and six
barges were damaged. A large explosion was observed during an attack on Ohama
Town and an oil dump set afire. Motor vehicles loaded with troops were severely
strafed.

Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command swept
Atsugi airfield in the vicinity of Tokyo with low level attacks on May 17
destroying seven enemy aircraft on the ground, probably destroying two more and
damaging 33 others. One of our aircraft was shot down by intense antiaircraft
fire over the target.

On May 16, Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force
sank a small cargo ship or escort vessel in the waters between Paramushiru and
Shimushu in the northern Kuriles and damaged two enemy fighters which attacked.

Aircraft of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck
targets in the Marshalls on May 16 and in the Palaus on the following day.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 366, MAY 18, 1945

During the period May 16‑17 (East Longitude
Dates) troops of the Tenth Army penetrated sectors of the enemy's line on
Okinawa which are being defended with the greatest tenacity of the entire
operation. On the evening of May 16, "G" Company of the 383rd
Regiment, Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division, at the crest of Conical Hill
engaged in a one‑hour grenade battle with a force of counter‑attacking
Japanese before driving the enemy oft the peak. On the same day in the Seventy‑Seventh
Infantry Division zone of action, the 307th Regiment captured a small hill
twice, were forced to retire on both occasions, recaptured the Hill on the
morning of May 17 and again were forced to retire due to heavy artillery and
mortar fire later in the day.

425

The First Marine Division captured a Japanese command
post on top of a small hill between Dakeshi and Wana on the afternoon of May 17
after over­coming intense opposition from caves. The Sixth Marine Division
which cap­tured "Sugar Loaf Hill" on the same day retained possession
of it only after losing it twice to heavy counterattack. During this Division's
advance from the Asa to the Asato River, it is estimated that two battalions of
Japanese troops were destroyed.

Ground troops were supported on May 17 and 18 by
heavy gunfire from ships of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and by aircraft from escort
carriers of the fleet and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and 318th Army
Fighter Group. A few enemy planes were over the Okinawa Area late in the day on
May 17 and during the early morning hours of May 18.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank a small
freighter south of Korea and damaged two freighter transports and an oiler in
the same area on May 18.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 367, MAY 19, 1943

Troops of the Tenth Army maintained heavy pressure on
the enemy along the whole southern front of Okinawa on May 18 (East Longitude
Date), meet­ing strong resistance at all points on the front lines. The Sixth
Marine Divi­sion withdrew from "Sugar Loaf Hill" in the western
sector after nightfall on May 17 but occupied the summit for the fifth time
after heavy fighting on the morning of May 18. The enemy has sacrificed large
numbers of troops in the defense of this key position before Naha. The First
Marine Division gained several hundred yards and was operating east of Wana
Town to destroy enemy strong points in that area. The Seventy‑Seventh
Infantry Division continued to assault strongly held enemy positions with local
support from aircraft and from flame‑throwing tanks. This division gained
some ground on its right flank near Ishimmi Town. In the hilly sector on the
eastern end of the lines south and east of Conical Hill, the Ninety‑Sixth
Infantry Division progressed slowly in hand to hand fighting. The enemy
employed substantial artillery fire all along the line in attempts to contain
the attacks of our forces. Our troops were supported throughout the day by
ships' gunfire and aircraft bombing. A few enemy aircraft appeared over the
Okinawa area during the evening of May 17. Two enemy planes were shot down.

Minor changes were made in the positions of our
troops attacking the Shuri position on May 19. Enemy resistance throughout the
hilly area around the fortress town remained extremely strong. The Sixth Marine
Division re­pulsed a counterattack east of Takamotoji during the early morning.
The First Marine Division and Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division continued
to attack abreast against heavily fortified ridges and hills around Wana Town.
The Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division continued to develop its positions
around Conical Hill and to the west of that point in violent hand to hand
fighting. On the evening of May, 18, a small group of enemy aircraft attacked
our forces in the area of Okinawa. Fourteen were shot down by combat air
patrols and by ships' gunfire.

Our attacking troops were supported by aircraft from
carriers and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and by Naval gunfire.

The enemy on Okinawa at the end of May 17 had lost
48,103 killed in action. U. S. Military Government authorities on that date,
had 139,858 civilians under their jurisdiction.

426

The following is a report of casualties to United
States Forces in the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan
since March 18:

Sweeping the northern Ryukyus on May 17‑18,
aircraft from fast car­riers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet sank a number of
luggers and small craft and damaged numerous others, destroyed five planes on
the ground and probably destroyed eight more. Fuel dumps, buildings and
installations at Yaku, Tokara, Tokuno, Kikai, Gaja and Amami were destroyed or
damaged.

Search Liberators and Privateers of Fleet Air Wing
Eighteen struck ship­ping and installations along the south coast of Honshu May
18, sinking a trawler, damaging six small cargo ships, a trawler, a sailing
vessel, and numerous fishing craft. In low level attacks, planes of this wing
wrecked a train. On the following day, the planes of the same wing sank a small
cargo ship and damaged three others near the Honshu coast.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One heavily
damaged a medium oiler south of Korea on May 19.

On May 18, Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter
Command attacked military installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins. On the
same date, Corsairs and Hellcats of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck
targets in the Palaus, on Yap and in the Marshalls. Marine aircraft again
bombed Installa­tions in the Palaus on May 19. One plane was shot down by enemy
antiair­craft fire but pilot was rescued.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 368, MAY 20, 1945

The Tenth Army in Southern Okinawa gained ground
slowly against the heaviest kind of resistance in the central and western
sectors as it enveloped the enemy citadel of Shuri on May 20 (East Longitude
Date). The First Marine Division established its forward elements at a point
about 800 yards south of Dakeshi Town and the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry
Division, after re­pulsing three enemy counterattacks, captured a strong point
900 yards north­east of Shuri. In the Sixth Marine Division zone on the west
coast, local progress was made east of Takamotoji. Moving against intense fire
the Ninety-Sixth Infantry Division reached an elevation about 1,600 yards east
of Ishimmi Town. Throughout the day our troops in all sectors met strong re­sistance
from caves, pillboxes and intense small arms fire. Ships' gunfire and aircraft
continued to support the troops.

A few enemy planes were over the area of Okinawa
early on May 20, but no activity was reported during daylight hours when
adverse weather prevailed.

On the night of May 18‑19, Thunderbolts of the
318th Army Fighters Group struck targets among the Amami Islands. Thunderbolts
of the same force strafed air installations in the Northern Ryukyus and joined
a Navy search Privateer to sink a picket craft west of Kyushu on May 20.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank a medium
freighter, prob­ably sank two small freighters and damaged a number of landing
craft in the waters around Korea on May 20.

Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force
strafed sir installa­tions and barges at Truk on May 20. On the same date,
Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed Marcus Island.

427

Mopping up operations continued on Iwo Island, the
Islands of the Marianas and the Palau Islands during the week May 6 through 12.
In this period, 141 of the enemy were killed and 167 were captured.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Four struck
installations at Kokutan on Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles with bombs and
rockets on May 18. On the same date, Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force
bombed Kataoka naval base on the same island.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 369, MAY 21, 1945

On the night of May 20‑21 (East Longitude Dates)
the Sixth Marine Division in western Okinawa repulsed a substantial
counterattack by Japanese troops, some of whom were found to be wearing Marine
uniforms and carry­ing U. S. weapons. An attempt by three groups of the enemy
to destroy our tanks in the First Marine Division sector by use of suicide
demolitions was repulsed.

During the darkness of early morning of May 21,
infantrymen of the Seventy‑Seventh Army Division struck out in a surprise
attack against the enemy lines north of Shuri and captured the town of Taira
Machi under In­tense small arms fire. Fighting heavily all day, troops of the
Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps and the Marine Third Amphibious Corps made
advances on both flanks and in the center of the lines. The Ninety‑Sixth
Infantry Division pressed southward making gains toward Yonabaru Town on the
east coast and was under intense interlocking machine gun fire throughout the
day. In the center of the lines, the Seventy‑Seventh Division was moving
slowly south of Taira Mach! after repulsing a strong enemy effort to recapture
the town in daylight. The First Marine Division was engaged in heavy fighting
during the afternoon in the ridges in the Wana area. On the west coast, the
Sixth Marine Division was attacking on a line south of Sugar Loaf Hill which is
now reported secured after its peak had changed hands eleven times !n heavy
fighting.

The troops were supported by heavy field artillery
and Naval gunfire.

During the evening of May 20, about 35 enemy planes
made low level attacks on our ships off the coast of Okinawa damaging five
light units. Twenty‑six of the attacking aircraft were destroyed by our
forces.

A search Privateer of Fleet Air Wing One bombed
warehouse installa­tions on Yaku Island in the northern Ryukyus on May 20
starting large fires. From the inauguration of searches from Okinawa area bases
until May 21, planes of this wing sank 86,880 tons of enemy shipping, damaged
81,500 tons, destroyed 21 enemy aircraft and damaged 15 aircraft.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine
Aircraft Wing bombed defense positions in the Palaus and on Yap on May 20.
Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck enemy
positions in the Marshalls on May 19‑20.

A Mitchell bomber of the Eleventh Army Air Force was
lost to antiaircraft fire during an attack on Minami Cape on Shimushu in the
northern Kuriles on May 20. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four swept targets
!n the area of Paramushiru on the same date.

428

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 370, MAY 22, 1945

At dusk on May 21 (East Longitude Date) about 12 to
15 enemy aircraft attacked U. S. ships in the Okinawa area. Eight of these
planes were de­stroyed by our forces and the remainder retired from the area
without caus­ing damage.

Heavy rains and resulting mud limited the movement of
armored vehicles and restricted operations in the central and western sectors
of the front in Southern Okinawa on May 22. On the eastern end of the lines the
advances made in the previous week by the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division
permitted the Seventh Infantry Division to launch a night attack which carried
their forward elements into Yonabaru on the left flank and around the city into
the high ground overlooking Rioj Town and Itarashiku Town to the south. Reports
at this time indicate that the enemy has chosen not to defend Yona­baru which
has been thoroughly reduced by our gunfire and bombing. Mean­while the Ninety
Sixth Infantry Division continued to attack enemy defenses southwest of Conical
Hill. During early morning darkness of May 22, the Marine Division in the west
repulsed a Japanese counterattack killing about 80 of the enemy. The Sixth
Marine Division continued to consolidate its posi­tion along the Asato River
and the Seventy Seventh Infantry Division con­ducted mopping up operations.

Carrier based aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet
bombed airfields, bar­racks, port installations, and buildings in the Sakishima
group on May 20 and 21. One enemy plane was shot down.

Search Mariners of Fleet Air Wing One damaged two
small cargo ships in the East China Sea on May 22. One the same date a search
Privateer of this wing strafed a small cargo ship and left it burning south of
Korea.

A small group of enemy bombers made a low level
attack on installations on Iwo Island during the night of May 21, causing a few
casualties. Two enemy planes were shot down.

Liberators and Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen
shot down a glider, probably destroyed an enemy plane and sank two small cargo
ships south of Honshu on May 21. On the following day aircraft of this wing
destroyed three fishing craft and damaged a small cargo ship in the same area.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine
Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations !n the Palaus and on Yap on May 21 and
22. On May 21 and during the night of May 21‑22, Mustangs of the Seventh
Fighter Com­mand bombed and strafed a radio station on Chichi Jima !n the
Bonins. Marine bombers continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 21.
In mopping up operations on Iwo Island and the Island of the Marianas from May
13 through May 19, U. S. forces killed 94 of the enemy and captured 134.

CINCPOA
COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 371, MAY 23, 1945

Two small groups of enemy aircraft attacked our
forces on and around Okinawa during the evening of May 22 (East Longitude
Date). One enemy plane was shot down and the remainder driven off without
causing damage.

Continuing rains and heavy mud limited the movement
of ground troops and armored vehicles !n southern Okinawa on May 23. In these
adverse condi­tions the Seventh Infantry Division on our left flank expanded
Its positions south of Yonabaru capturing a hill south of Taira Town and
another eleva­tion west of Yonabaru after sharp fighting in which the Thirty
Second and One Hundred Eighty Fourth Regiments led the attack. The Sixth Marine

429

Division on the right flank sent elements of the Fourth
Regiment of Marines across the Asato River about 1,000 yards from its mouth
during the day under cover of field artillery and heavy Naval gunfire. In the
area west of Conical Hill the Ninety Sixth Infantry Division was meeting stiff
resistance beating of one counterattack in which the Three Hundred Eighty
Second Regiment killed about 160 of the enemy. The Seventy Seventh Infantry
Divi­sion was engaged throughout the day in attacking a range of hills south of
Ishimmi and before the city of Shuri. In the First Marine Division sector a
counterattack by the enemy was repulsed.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
bombed airfields and installations on Ishigaki and Miyako in the Sakishima
group on May 22 and 23 setting one aircraft afire and strafing five others on
the ground.

A search seaplane of Fleet Air Wing One heavily
damaged a small cargo ship in the East China Sea on May 23.

Search Privateers and Liberators of Fleet Air Wing
Eighteen sank three small craft south of Tokyo and strafed radar and camp
installations on Shikoku on May 22. On the following day Venturas of this wing
strafed bar­racks and shipping on and around Honshu and a search plane shot
down one enemy fighter and sank a net tender and a small cargo ship oft the
Honshu coast.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine
Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus on May 22 and Helldiver bombers of
the same wing struck Yap on the same date. Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed
targets in the Marshalls on May 21 and 22. On May 23 Thunderbolts of the
Seventh Army Air Force destroyed one aircraft on the ground and probably
destroyed another in attacks on Truk.

N. D.COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 600, MAY 24, 1945

Philippine Area.

1. The YMS‑481 has been lost in the
Philippines area as the result of enemy action.

2. The next of kin of casualties have been informed.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 372, MAY 24, 1945

Several small air raids were made by the enemy on our
forces in the Okinawa Area on May 23 (East Longitude Date), causing minor
damage to a light unit.

Heavy mud continued to hamper movement of the Tenth
Army in South­ern Okinawa on May 24. On our right flank in the west, the Sixth
Marine Division constructed two bridges across the Asato River under fire of
enemy artillery and sent Infantry elements to the bridgehead on the South Bank
In force. Patrols afoot were engaged throughout the day, reducing strong points
South of the River. On our Left flank in the East, the Seventh Infantry Divi­sion
made important advances after sharp fighting. Action along the remainder of the
front was limited largely to mopping up operations. Use of our armor was
prevented by adverse conditions of the terrain at the front.

Numerous small groups of enemy aircraft attacked our
forces afloat and ashore at le Shims during the evening of May 24, causing some
damage to installations on the Island. By 2330, Local Time, fifteen enemy
planes had been destroyed and the attack was continuing.

430

U. S. Military Government authorities on Okinawa are
engaged in de­velopment of facilities for the caring of more than 139,000
civilians on the island. Of the civilians thus far taken under our
jurisdiction, 82 per cent are children under seventeen years of age or women.
The majority of adult males on the Island were drafted for labor service with
the enemy prior to U. S. landings. During the month of April, 86 per cent of
the civilians in areas under U. S. control subsisted wholly on native resources.
Security patrolling of areas under the Island Commander is being carried out by
troops of the Twenty‑Seventh Infantry Division.

Aircraft from Escort Carriers of the U. S. Pacific
Fleet continued to neutralize enemy airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 24.
Five planes were strafed on the ground at Miyako Island.

Search Coronados of Fleet Air Wing One shot down an
enemy fighter off the coast of Southern Korea on May 24.

Fighters and bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft
Wing struck instal­lations in the Palaus and on Yap on May 23 and 24.

Light Naval units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
bombarded Suribachi Port and installations on the East Coast of Paramushiru on
May 20, causing fires and explosions. An attack by two enemy aircraft upon our
forces during their retirement was beaten off without casualties to our ships.